Method and apparatus for making cartons for packaging of liquids



Dec. 29, 1953 FISCHER 2,664,034

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING CARTONS FOR PACKAGING OF LIQUIDS Flled Sept 2 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 mmvroa A P404 5 FFsc/IER ATTORNEYS Dec. 29, P E FISCHER METHOD AND API ARATUS FOR MAKING CARTONS FOR PACKAGING OF LIQUIDS Filed Sept. 2, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. v P4 14. E. Es CHER A TTORNEYS FIG 5.

Dec. 29, 1953 P. E. FISCHER 2,664,034

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING CARTONS FOR PACKAGING OF LIQUIDS Filed Sept. 2, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIE 4 130 IN VEN TOR. P404 E. F'IscH/ER ArraRNE-rs 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Dec. 29, 1953 P. E. FISCHER METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING CARTONS FOR PACKAGING OF LIQUIDS Filed Sept. 2, 1952 Patented Dec. 29, 1953 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING CARTONS FOR PACKAGING OF LIQUIDS Paul E. Fischer, Minneapolis, Minn., assignor, by mesne assignments, to E. G. Staude Manuface turing Company, Inc., Concord, N. H., a corporation of New Hampshire Application September 2, 1952, Serial No. 307,512

9 Claims.

This invention relates to method and apparatus for making cartons for the packaging of liquids. The packaging of liquids, particularly for sale at retail levels has been carried out in two fairly common ways. In the one method, the liquid is packaged in a bottle or can for which the customer is charged a certain deposit, and this deposit is then returned to the customer when the bottle or can is returned to the dealer. This is known as the returnable bottle or package system. According to another well known system of operation the merchandise is packaged in a container that can easily be disposed of by the consumer, such containers being thus used only once. One prominent field of retail distribution in which the packaging has been carried out in both ways is the dairy field. For many decades fluid milk and other dairy products have been backaged and delivered in glass bottles that were returned to the dairiesfor cleansing andre-use. More recently there have been developed cardboard cartons that are capable of containing the fluid milk for a sufficient length of time for delivery to the purchaser. These paper milk cartons as they are most commonly called are shown in numerous United States patents, among which there may be mentioned the following: 2,079,875 2,079,876; 2,218,670; 2,263,957; 2,270,617. There are also other patents relating to various features and improvements of this class of cartons.

The paper milk carton has earned and deserves a wide acceptance because it is light in weight, sanitary, delivers the milk in good order to the consumer, it is easily disposable by the consumer and presents cost advantages. The disadvantage, however, with such cartons is that they must be made where they are filled, that is to say in the dairy itself. This is due to the fact that the carton is of rectangular parallelepipedon shape and has a uniform cross sectional area from bottom to top. In the usual form the side walls are rectangles of equal size, the bottom is a square, and the carton has the same square horizontal cross section from. the bottom to the shoulder where the side walls are bent inwardly to form the gable roof or top closure of the carton. This shape, while it serves admirably for the intended purpose of containing the liquid product being packaged and sold, presents the disadvantage that it is incapable of being shipped flat or nested, and consequently only those producers of liquid merchandise, who produce exceedingly large quantities of merchandise, have been able to afford the relatively large and expensive machinery necessary for making the 2 paper cartons. Accordingly, the small dairy serving a limited area has not been able to avail itself of the advantages presented by thedisposable paper cartons. It has heretofore been proposed to make a paper carton of steep frustoconical shape capable of being nested in the unclosed (and unfilled) condition. Such a carton construction has the advantage that a large number of cartons may be nested together, thereby reducing the bulk so as to allow economical shipment of the cartons from their place of manufacture to their place or" filling. While this idea is very excellent, it has not been adopted readily due to the difiiculty of making a carton of frustoccnical shape on existing carton-makingmachinery and utilizing existing carton-making methods. Furthermore, the design of the carton'blank involved so much wastage of paper material as to make the cost of the cartons relatively higher, and hence the economies involved in the use of the disposable paper carton by the ultimate user (the dairy for example) were less, and as a consequence such frustoconically shaped cartons have not been widely accepted.

It is an object of the present invention to provide improved methods and apparatus for making frustoconically shaped cup-like cartons which are capable of being nested before filling andclosing.

It is a further object of the invention to, provide improved methods and apparatus for making liquid-containing cartons of the frustoconical shape wherein the carton blank utilizes a lesser amount of paperboard material than heretofore.

It is another object of the invention to provide methods and apparatus capable of being adapted to existing carton-making machines and methods for the production of frustoconically shaped nestable liquid-containing cartons.

It is an additional object of the invention to provide improvements in carton-making machinery applicable to existing carton-making devices wherein suitably shaped blanks may be properly handled on the machine without difficulty in gluing or otherwise.

It is a further object of the invention to provide improvements in carton making methods and apparatus whereby the pouring spout oi the carton is applied at one position and the blank then re-oriented for application of glue which provides for closure of the carton to a tapered tubular form.

It is an additional object of'the invention to provide a method and apparatus for adjusting the position of a flat carton blank relative to its first line of travel and as it moves during carton-making so as to permit subsequent travel of the blank in a position angularly disposed with respect to the first position, for application of glue along a path paralleling the direction of motion but across a portion of the blank angularly disposed with reference to a line on the blank parallel to the first line of motion.

Other and further objects of the invention are those inherent in the apparatus herein illustrated, described and claimed.

The invention is illustrated with reference to the drawings in which corresponding numerals refer to the same parts and in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through a portion of a standard cartonmaking machine, to which the improvements of the present invention have been applied;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan view corresponding to the elevational view of Figure 1, illustrating the path of movement of a carton blank, according to the improved methods and utilizing the improved apparatus of the present invention;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the carton-making machine showing the portion of Figure 2 that is designated Turn;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through the carton making machine improvements of the present invention, taken along the line and in the direction of arrows 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating on a slightly enlarged scale a portion of the gluing station of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the line and in the direction of arrows 68 of Figure 5;

Figures 7, 8 and 9 are plan views of represen tative carton blanks, Figure 7 illustrating the blank utilized in the methods and apparatus of the instant invention; Figure 8 illustrating a blank of corresponding size but utilizing an earlier and somewhat wasteful form of blank pattern; Figure 9 illustrating the blank from which cartons of rectangular parallelepipedon shape, such as those illustrated in the United States patents previously mentioned herein.

Referring to Figure 9 there is illustrated a blank of the form capable of being folded into a carton of the type illustrated in the above mentioned United States patents. In this carton blank the side panels I, 2, 3 and 4 have a vertical length (when the carton is pasted and set up) determined by the distance between the lines l| I and the line l2l 3. The horizontal width of each of the rectangular side panels is the same. Thus, the width of panel I is the distance W between the lines l4 and IS, the width of panel 2 is likewise W and is the distance between the lines and I6, the width of panel 3 is the width W and is the distance between lines l5 and H, and the width of the panel 4 is the width W and is the distance between the lines 11 and 18. Each one of the side panels has an integral flap to the left of the line l0| I in Figure 9, thus the flaps 20, 2|, 22 and 23. These are folded in overlapping relation so as to form a rectangular bottom when the carton is set up. In addition, the panel 4 has a rectangular edge at 24 which overlies a corresponding rectangular edge 25 between the lines 14 and 26 of panel I when the carton is set up in tubular form. In making the carton, glue is applied to the edge 24 and then the carton blank, which is suitably scored, is folded over so as to bring the flap 24 into overlying relation with the area 25, and when pressure is applied they are adequately pasted together in liquid tight relation. The portion of the blank to the right of the line I 2-| 3 has to do with the top closure or roof construction, and it is unnecessary to refer to it in detail, other than to say that the roof construction, which is fully described in the patents cited above, is left open until the dairy or other user of the carton fills the carton with milk or similar liquid product and then the roof construction is folded in in accordance with the fold lines scored into the blank and sealed adequately.

Likewise, on the panel 3 or upon some other one of the panels there is pasted a flap 28 which is cemented onto that side of the carton blank which becomes the inside of the finished carton. This rectangular patch 28 has score lines at 29 partially out through, and the carton blank is likewise suitably scored at 30 so that the user can lift up a little portion of the carton and easily make a pouring hole through which the liquid contents of the carton, when filled, may be dispensed. It will be apparent from the above mentioned patents and Figure 9 that the cartons made from the exemplary blank of Figure 9 have a uniform square cross section from bottom to top and even before its top is closed, the carton cannot be nested with another carton of the same size.

In making liquid cartons of the rectangular or square type from blanks as exemplified by that of Figure 9, the blank is carried along a carton-making machine in a direction parallel to the lines l4, l5, I5, I! and 18. The blank usually moves in the direction of arrow 3|. In the usual operation, the blanks which are precut to perimeter shape are fed one at a time in spaced relation and are carried through the carton-making machine. At one station of the carton-making machine score lines are added, and any additional cutting that may be required on the blank which was not made during the original cutting of the perimeter of the blank is added. Then as the blank proceeds along, at another station a small patch of paper, such as that illustrated at 28, Figure 9, is cut and applied and the necessary cutting or partial cutting through the original blank and the patch is made. All the while the blank travels in the direction of arrow 3| which is parallel to the lines l4 through R8, inclusive. Then as the blank is moving along, its projecting area 24 runs between rollers and by means of these rollers, lines of glue or other cement are applied throughout the length of the rectangular edge area 24. In this connection, it is worthwhile noting that the glue as thus applied must run continuously from the one end 24A of the rectangular edge to the other end 245, so that when the carton is folded over, a tight and liquid-proof joint will be made. This is especially true at the edge 24A, which ultimately is near the bottom part of the carton and hence is subjected to maximum hydrostatic pressure. The application of the glue in the strip upon the area 24 is accordingly a sensitive operation and it must run continuously from one end of the strip to the other.

In the operation just illustrated, the patch 29 has an axis along the line 32 which is parallel to the direction of motion 3|, and likewise the axis 240 of the edge rectangular strip 24 is also parallel to the direction of motion 3|. Therefore, no problem is presented so far as concerns running in the strip material from which the patches 23 are cut and of applying them to the blank, nor is any problem presented in holding the blank positioned so that the axis 24C coincides with the direction of movement 3|.

The desire to produce a nestable paper carton evolves the blank pattern as shown in Figure 8. In this form the pattern is shaped so as to produce a frustoconical shape. The side panels 4|, 52, 43 and is are defined, respectively, by the lines 35, 3t, 3? and 38. The bottom of the carton, when it is folded into shape is defined by the bottom tabs 45, 46, 41 and 48. The side panel 45 has a vertical axis along the line 49 and the scoring line 55-51 is at right angles to the axis line 69. Similarly, the score line 5l-52 of panel 652 is at right angles to its axis 53, the line 5254 is at right angles to its axis 55 and the line 5i56 is at right angles to its axis 51. The upper scoring line 5862 defines the portion, to the right of which in Figure 8, are the roof construction parts of the blank. These correspond to the roof construction parts to the right of line iii-43 of the blank in Figure 9 and when properly folded along the scoring lines permits a gable roof to be folded on the carton when it is filled and closed. In the carton shown in Figure 9, the pouring spout patch 28 was applied to the panel 3 and it could as easily have been applied to the panel I, so long as the patch avoided the double portion of the carton occasioned by the overlap of part 24 on part 25. In the carton shown in Figure 8 the entire blank is moved through the carton-making machine in the direction of arrow 63, which is parallel to the line 38. Below the line 38, there is provided the sealing flange which consists of the rectangle defined by the corners 56, 64, 65 and 66. The blank, which is pre-cut and often pro-scored, is moved through the carton-making machine in the direction of arrow 63 and hence parallel to the line 38 and parallel to the axis 61 of the rectangular pasting area just defined. Accordingly, glue may be spread throughout this area from the edge line 55-44, which ultimately is adjacent the bottom of the carton, to the edge lines 65t6 which are ultimately adjacent the top of the carton. The fact that the entire blank moves parallel to its line 38 necessarily means therefore that the remainder of the blank moves with lines 3 35 and 34 at increasing angles, respectively, to the direction of movement represented by arrow 63. However, since no work is done in the carton-making machine on the portions of the blank above line 38, other than folding, this can be accomplished adequately. In the carton shown in Figure 8 no separate pour ing spout patch is applied, but instead a projecting rectangular area, defined by the corners 69, it, ii and 72 is cut on the blank. This area has an arcuate cut '13 provided and in the cutting of the blank there are'also provided partially cut lines l l-l5 and l5-T|. There is also provided an aperture defined by the lines -4"! and an arcuate line 19. When the carton is folded, the partially cut lines '|4I5 and 16-11 as well as the aperture defined by the lines i'll and the curved line 19, come into the position shown by the dotted line in the tabular area around the arcuate cut 13. Therefore, as the blank moves through the machine the prescored blank is folded over and the pouring spout portions, just described, are brought together.

The only disadvantage with the carton shown in Figure 8 and its method of manufacture has to do with the wastage of material in the rectangular area defined by the corners 64, 69, i2 and 80. This area cannot be salvaged and is wholly wasted. Accordingly this form of blank has not received wide acceptance.

Referring now to Figure 7 there is illustrated the form of blank utilized in accordance with the present invention. In this form the main areas of the side walls, bottom and gable roof forming features may be the same as shown in Figure 8, however, no tabular rectangle for forming the pouring spout, such as the rectangle 69, 10, H, 12, is provided, and instead a pouring patch exactly similar to the patch 28 of Figure 9 is utilized. For convenience in nomenclature, the numbers of Figures 8 and 9, where they correspond to areas and shapes of Figure 7, will be utilized, with the suffix A. Thus the sides A through Acorrespond in shape to the sides ii-44 of Figure 8. The lines 59A5$A correspond to the lines 50-56. The lines 58A- 62A correspond to the lines 5852. Similarly, the bottom tabs 45A48A correspond to the bottom tabs 45-48, respectively. The only difference therefore for a correspondingly shaped carton would be that the tabular portion 89, 10, H and 12 is removed, thus leaving only the pasting area 56, 65, 66, 64 which, when the box is folded, overlies the area 8| of the panel il, between the lines 34 and 82. Similarly, the pasting area 56A, 65A, 66A, 64A overlies the area 8IA between the lines 34A and 82A. In this form of carton there is provided the pouring spout patch 28A having an axis 32A that coincides with the vertical axis of the panel 43A, when the carton is set up. The axis 32A is at right angles to the folding line 60A'5IA between the panel 43A and the slanting roof panel at the top of the carton, which is to the right of the line SBA-SIA and between the lines 36A and 31A. The patch 28A is provided with the line scores or cuts 29A and 30A, as described with reference to the similar pouring spout patch of Figure 9. p I

In order that the pouring spout patch 28A be applied utilizing. existing machinery, it is desirable that the entire blank of Figure '7, be moving in the direction of the axis line 32A,.

when the patch 28A is applied. At the same time, in applying paste to the pasting edge 56A, 65A, 66A, A, it is equally desirablethat the blank be moving parallel to the axis 61A. Due to the configuration of the blank, which is necessitated by its nestable, frustoconical shape, the axes 32A and 61A can never be parallel. In order to utilize the most desired path of move ment for application of patch 28A and at the same time utilize thedesirable path of movement along axis 61A for application of the paste, there is provided in accordance with this invention improved methods and apparatus. The methods are best illustrated with reference to Figures 2 through 6, to which reference is now made.

The improvements of the present invention are generally applicable to machines of the type set forth in Patent 2,395,352. In general these machines include an elongated frame I09, Fig ure 1 hereof, along which are arranged a plurality of work stations where the carton blanks are worked upon, for converting them into the desired carton structure. Thus, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, along the frame I00 there are arrangeda plurality of stations, station IOI for iaeeago'au applying paste by whichthe pouring spoutipatch is attached to the blank; a station I02 where the pouring spout .patch is :cut and applied to the paste area, and a subsequent station 1.04 where glue is applied ito 1the edge of the blank preparatory to folding it and fastening it into a tubular form. In addition, the instant :invention includes a stationat 1103 where the :blank is turned slightly as will be described.

The frame 583 includes :two :or rnore chainsror belts III and H2 that move linearly along the frame for pushing the carton blanks .at :a auniform rate-of speed through the successive work stations. These belts or chains I III'I2 are driven by suitable mechanisms not illustratedbut travel at the same rate of speed andalong each of the belts or chains there are:aiplurality ioi upstanding fingers, thus fingers .I -I IA through .I IIC and fingers I IZA through ILZC.

For the purposes of this invention it will be assumed that theblanksslhown in Figure .2 or as shown in Figure 7, are precut and scored, either in the machine or exteriorly and fed to the machine and thatthey travel between the guide rails H 5 and H5. These guide rails arepreferably provided with slight grooves at H6 and II? in which the edgesof the-carton blank are adapted to be guided.

To the right of station :II] I, the station at which the paste for the patch is applied, the blanks are suitably fed to the belts III and H 2 in :a position such that the axisr32A of the-patch which is to be applied isparallel to the 'a-xispf'panel 43A and the two axesare'in turn para llel to the path of movement of the belts III and -I I2. In order that the blank shall-be maintained with the axis 32A running parallel to the belt, the fingers I I !A--I I I0 and the fingers I"I2A'l-i'2C-are adjusted relative to each other so that they just abut-against the edges H8 and s'I-I9 of the blank, when the axis32A is parallel'to the path of move ment of the belt. Thus, 'theblank, such as blank BI at station Itl is pushed in the direction of arrow I by the fingers IIIA and I 12A which contact the appropriate trailing edges of the blank. {he belts :I-I-I and 412 are made adjustable longitudinally relative to each other so that this positional arrangement of the blanks is maintained as the blank ismoved along through stations Ifi'I and 102.

At station I0: thereis provided on .the'machine a rotatable shaft I22 upon which are a plurality of brackets I23-i23 to which there are bolted the paste ,plying heads, of which onetsuchhead I26 is illustrated. The head has a paste applying pad I25 of appropriate shape so that when the pad runs into contact with the blanks moving along beneath it, there willbe appliedan area of paste, as indicated by the shaded area I26 of blank BI, Figure 2. The pads I25 are arcuately shaped about the axis of shaft 122 and are ladjustableradially by'means of the arm INA that is attached by the studs I28. Theshait 122 is rotated at a speed and in the direction of arrow I2! such that it travels at the same rate of movement as do the blanksustheyprogress through and pass the station IIlI. Furthermore, :shaft I22 is run .in closesynchronization to the movement of the belts H21 and H2 so that the area of paste I26 as'applied to each blankoccupies the same position relative to the score lines andqedges of the blank as-on-every-other blank.

Then as the blanks .are progressed in the 'di- "rection of arrow:l.2il,they;pass under stations Hi2,

where, by suitable :mechanis'm generally -desigshaped :pouring outlet.

:nated I30, there isapplied to the pasted area a vprecut rectangle 28 of paperboard which is .cut and scored .50 as .to produce the .appropriately Obviously, the shape of the patch 'nd the pouring outlet may be varied in accordance with the design of the box, as .desired. The apparatus for applying the paste and for cutting, scoring, and applying the patch, per se, forms no part .of .the present invention other than that the patch is applied parallel to the longitudinal axis of one of the sides of the blank and hence defines the position of .the blank on the machine .as it travels through the stations HH and .502.

;As hereinbefore explained, the application of paste to the area 55A65A--,5GA64A, Figure '7, is a critical operation in that the paste must be applied uniformly fromtthe line BSA-64A to the line Bier-A, along the axis .B'IA. In order to do this the paste applying roll might be made spirally, if the blanks were maintained at stations I65 and IE2, but the timing and shape of such a .glueapplying apparatus is beset with difficulty, both in its manufacture and operation.

According to the .present invention the blanks are each rotated about .an .axis perpendicular to the plane of the blank between the patch applying station I82 and the glue applying station I94. To accomplish such rotation the apparatus is provided as follows:

Referring to Figures. throughfi, at the gluing station I there are provided .a pair of shafts 32 and .533 upon which there are mounte pulleys I34 and E35, which in turn carry the belts i'3"3.?. The position of the shafts I32-I33 is such thatthe surfaceso'f the belts run in contact with each otheralong the line of travel of the blanks and are adapted to receive and carry the blanksalong the travel of themachine once they are returned in position. Shafts I32-533 are geared toge her so that they rotate at the same speed and so as .to provide a peripheral speed of the belts Ital-13! in the direction or" the arrows shown on pulleys I33 and equal'to the linear speed of travel of the belts III and H2. Immediatelyahead of the belts I38 and It? there are provided a pair of roll shafts 13B and I39 having a plurality of roll surfaces idilA, MOB and I400, on the shaft I23 and corresponding mating roll surfaces on the shaft I39, of which the surface NIB is shown in Figure 1. 'The shafts I38 and I39 are gearedtogether so as to rotate in the direction of the arrows I42 and M3 at a speed such that the peripheries of the rollers I40A through 448C and the rollers I-l IA through MIC -on the shaft I39 is the same as the speed of travel or" the blanks as pushed along by the belts III and H2. The rollers MEA through I480 are arranged so as to provide an adequate amount of gripping surface against the top and the bottom of the blank, and the shafts I38 and 39 are provided with hearing adjustments so that the pressure exerted by the rolls ME-A-MSC against the underlying-rolls I'GiA-I'41C is sufficient so as to hold the blanks tightly and propel them along as each blank runs into-the nip of the rollers and is picked up and propelled by them.

Upon the shaft 132 there is also provided a pulley I50 which is belted so as to drive another pulley 'I5I on the shaft I52. The shaft 552 is mounted upon a fully adjustable bracket :53 attached by the bolts i54-I54 to the upstanding frame studs I55-i55 mounted upon the main frame Hi8 of the machine. The bracket I53 is essentially a cross bar at an elevated position on the machine above the path of. travel of the belt. Upon the bar I53 there is attached a bar I55 set edgewise and attached' by'screws' I56 to the edge of the bar I53. The bar I55 .thus'presents upper and lower edges which forms a gib to which the slide bracket generally designated ISO is adapted to be clamped. by means of the cap screw I 6|. The bracket I60 has a verticalhole through it in which there is. positioned the round rods I62, as shown in Figures3 and 4, the rod'being held in place by means of a set screw I63. The upper end of the rod I82 hasiflattened faces upon which the clevis end Hi5 ofthe shaft' I52 is attached and held fixedly in place by means of the through bolt I81. Accordingly, the position of the shaft I52 may be universally adjusted transversely of the main frame I of the machine, it may be lifted and lowered by sliding the mounting rod I 62 up and down and the level of the shaft I52 may likewise be adjusted, or the shaft 552 may be tilted up or "down, as desired. The pulley lI is journalled on the shaft I52 and is held in place by thecollar I68. To the pulley there is attached a propelling roller I19 which runs concentrically with the pulley and is provided with a rubber or other surface having a relatively high coefficient of friction. The pulley E52 runs slightly out of alignment with the drive pulley I on the shaft I32, but the misalignment is not sufficient to cause the belt I12 to run off the pulley. Accordingly, as the shaft I32 is rotated in the direction shown by the arrow adjacent it in Figure 1, the upper course of travel of'the belt I12 will likewise travel as shown by the arrow I13, causing rotation of the pulley HI and the frictional drive roll I10 as shown by the arrow I14 of Figures 1 and 3.

Upon the frame I00 there is also mounted a bracket I89 which extends inwardly beneath the course of travelof the'blank as shown in Figure 4. This bracket serves as as'upport for the vertical rod I8! which is held in adjusted position by means of a set screw I82. At the upper end of the rod I8! there is a sideward extending stub shaft 283 upon which there is journalled a sup porting r011 534 the periphery 'of which runs in contact with the "under side of the blanks as they progress along pa'st station I03, The roller I84 may be of hard material, such as metal, and it is adjusted in position soas to be immediately below the point of Contact of the driving roller As the blanks progressalo'n'g through stations l0I and I52 theymaint'aina positionsuch that "the axis 32A'of the patch 28 is parallel to the line of travel of the "driving belt's' II I' and I I2. Theblanks are maintained in this position by the dogs HIA-I I I0 and II2AI I2C in contact with the-trailing edges of the blanks as they are pushed along. Such position is maintained until the leadingedge of each blank runs under the revolving drive roller I10-just described; Thus, the blanks reach the dotted line position shown in Figure 3 ,the edges H8 and I I9 are still in contact with the dogs IIIC and H20. Then just as a forward edge of the blank runs into contact with the drive roller 31%, the blank. begins to be turned. The pulley I530 is mad slightly larger than. the pulley I5 I in a proportion such that the periphery of the drive roller I10 will rotate at a speed slightly in excess of the lineal speed of motion of the driving belts II I and I I2. Consequently, as the edge i85 of the blank B3, for example, runs into contact with nip between the rolls I10 and the supporting roller I84, thatportion of the blank contacted by said. rollers begins to be propelled at a faster linear speed than the blank as a whole is traveling. Accordingly, the blank, as for example blank B3 at station I03, is caused to be rotated generally in the direction of arrow I81, of Figure 3, the rotation taking place substantiallyabout the propelling dog II2C on the belt H2. The speed of rotation of the roller I10 is adjusted so that while the blank as a Whole is being propelled in the direction of arrow I20, Figure 3, from the dotted line position to the full line position, that portion of the blank in the upper part of the figure, as contacted by the rolls I10 and I84, will be propelled at a slightly more rapid speed and as a re sult the edge defined by the corners 64A66A is brought around from the dotted line position to the full line position, and in the latter position it is in contact with th bottom of the groove II1 of the supporting side rail II5. Just at this same instant the leading edge I of the blank runs into the nip between rollers MOB and I4IB on the shafts I38 and I39, respectively, and very slightly afterwards the edge I 31 does likewise between the rollers I40C and I4IC. As soon as said rollers take hold of the blank, it is propelled in the newly established position, regardless of any tendency of the turning effect of the roller I10, The correct position of the roller I10 is readily attained by ad usting its position transversely on the gib I55. Obviously, the posit on must be adjusted widely for larger or smaller size blanks. It may be stated parenthetically, however, that in the u ual paper milk carton of this style, the size of the top of the carton remains constant and the volume is diminished merely by reducing the height of the carton. Accordingly, the size of the pouring spout and of the carton rema ns the same, but the length from left to right, in Figures 1,2, 3 and '7 is diminished for the smaller si es of cartons. The proper adjustment of the roll I10 accordingly depends upon the size of the carton and the amount of turndesired, the latter being determined bv the amount of convergence of the frustoconical sides of the carton itself, this likewise being a matter of design.

Accordingly, the carton block as turned from the dotted to the full line positions sho n in Figure 3, is then propelled by the rollers MBA-440C and I4IA -I4IC in the new direction, which is propelled in the direction of the line (M -66A.

"As the blank pro resses it is then run between the belts I 36 and I 31, the backs of which travel in contact with each other, as previously explained, and the blanks are then pulled along to the dotand-dash line position as shown in Figure 3, and

part of the present invention, they being standard equipment, except that according to this invention for the first time the tapered form of paper cartonmay now be glued as herein de scribed. Thus, at the pasting station there is provided a paste or glue pot I in which the roll shaft I9I is journalled. The shaft I9I carries a glue-applying roller I92, the lower portion of which issubmerged in the glue. I Upon the surface I93 of the glue pot there is mounted a bracket I 94 and on it there is pivoted at I95 the arm I96 carrying the roller I91, which is pulled down by the adjusting nut I 98 on the shaft I99 threaded into the boss 200 in plate 11 I93. A spring I serves normally to push the arm I96 upwardly. The bracket I94 is also pro,- vided with a sidearm 20I in which the stem 202 is mounted by means of a set screw 2B3. The stem serves as a support for the resilient holddown finger 294 having a lower end 205 that runs in contact with the upper surface of the blank. It is to be understood that the glue is applied to the under-surface of the blank and the roll I92 is customarily provided with circumferential ridges at I92A, as shown in Figure 5, the surface of the roller I91 may likewise be ridged if so desired. The position of the rollers I92 and H31 is adjusted on the frame so that as each edge of the blank moves along it will pass between them and the glue is applied on the under-surface by rotation of the circumferential ridges of roller I92 in contact with such under-surface. Usually the glue pot also includes a spreading roller at 20'! so as to level the glue on the roller I92 before it is applied. Other forms of glue applying rollers may be used if desired. It will be noted in this connection that the area defined by the points 55A, 55A. 66A and 64A of each blank, see Figures 5 and 7, is all that runs between the rollers I 9.2 and I91. Also, that since the edge SSA-54A runs into the ni between the rollers I92 and I91, and the edge 65A58A runs out from between. the rollers, it follows that the glue is applied uniformly and in an even line throughout the length of the strip between these edges as well as entirely to each edge. In this way the number of leaky cartons, due to ineifective and improper anplication of the glue, especially to the edge 56A-64A is substantially reduced.

After the paste is applied, as described, the blank is moved as described in the patent aforesaid, and folded along the folding lines of the blank until the edge to which paste has been applied is brought into contact with the surface BIA, Figure 7. Pressure is'then applied for completing the formation of the tubular blank, which at that time is flattened. Subsequently, the end flaps 45A48A are infolded and cemented in place, and the cartons can then be nested in the same manner as conical cups, for shipment to the places where they are filled and closed. In this manner shipping costs are greatly reduced and the smaller users are provided a mode of operation by means of which such desirable disposable paper cartons may be used in trade, without the necessity of installing large and expensive equipment at their place of business.

As many apparently widely diiierent embodiments of this invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof; it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the specific embodiments herein.

What I claim is:

1. In the manufacture, from, flat blanks; of nestable cartons of generally f-rustoconical shape having right rectangular bottom and cross sec.- tion, downwardly convergent side walls, portions integral with the side walls capable of being infolded to form a gable top closure and a cemented-on pouring spout forming a patch on the interior thereof, the method comp-rising moving a blank that is; cut; and: scored s as; to be foldable to form said carton, said: blankincluding contiguous convergent side walls and an elongated rectangular protruding flap on the edge of one side wall, in a direction parallel to the axis of one side wall and at an inclined angle to the elongated rectangular protruding flap, while so moving said blank applying a glue area thereto, then applying to said glue area. a, pouring spout forming a generally rectangular flap, the axis of which is generally parallel to the axis of the side wall, then rotating the blank about an axis normal to the plane thereof as it is moved until the length of said elongated rectangular protruding flap is parallel to the direction of motion, and then applying glue from end to end of said flap.

2. In the manufacture from flat blanks of nestable frustoconical cartons intended for the marketing and dispensing of liquids, such cartons being characterized by having convergent contiguous sides defined by convergent folding lines, one side side of said blank having a gluing flap, the longitudinal axis of which is parallel to one of said convergent folding lines defining one of the edges of said blank, the method comprising progressing said blank in a direction of travel parallel to a line bisecting the angle between adjacent convergent folding lines, and as the blank is so movedadhesively attaching to said blank a pouring opening forming patch, the axis of said patch being oriented parallel to the direction of movement of the blank, then as the blank is moved further in the same direction slightly rotating it about an axis normal to the plane of the blank until the longitudinal edge of the gluing flap is brought parallel to the di rection of travel of said blank, and applying glue along the length of said gluing flap.

3. The method of claim 2 further characterized in that the blank is rotated by propelling it at one rate at one place across the width thereof and at a more rapid rate for a short time period at another place across the width thereof.

4. In an apparatus for making cartons from blanks having a pasting flap along one edge comprising a frame, blank carrier'means mounted on the frame for movement along a path longitudinally of the frame for progressing carton blanks therealong with said pasting flap at an angle to the direction of motion, means for pasting a pouring opening forming patch on the blank as it moves, means for rotating the blank about an axis normal to the plane of the blank as the blank is moved for aligning said pasting flap parallel with the path of movement longitudinal of the frame of said blank carrier means, and means for then applying glue to the aligned pasting flap.

5. The apparatus of the type described in claim 4. further characterized in that said means for rotating the blank comprises a roller mounted so as to run in contact with the surface of the blank as it is progressed by said blank carrier means, said rollerbeing spaced transversely of the frame relative to said blank carrier means, and means for rotating said roller at a peripheral speed slightly in excess of thespeed of movement of said blank carrier means.

6. The apparatus of'the type described in claim 5 further characterized in that said blank carrier means comprises a belt having spaced protuberances therealong adapted to engage a trailing edge of the blank for progressing. it along the frame, and said means for rotating comprises a roller mounted for running contact with the surface of each blank as it'is progressed, a supporting roller mounted, under the frame for supporting the blank where it is contacted by the first mentioned' roller, said, first: mentioned roller being 13 arranged at a slight angle to a line transverse of the frame.

7. In an apparatus for making cartons from blanks having a pasting flap along one edge comprising a frame, a pair of flexible elements guided on the frame for linear movement therealong in spaced relation, upstanding fingers on each of said elements for engaging the trailing edge of blanks and for progressing them linearly along said frame with said pasting flapat an angle to the direction of movement, means for pasting a pouring outlet forming patch on the blank as it is moved, means for rotating the blank after the pouring outlet patch has been applied thereto, said means including a turning roll having a periphery of material having a high coefiiei-ent of friction, said turning roll being mounted by running contact with a surface of the blank disposed from one of said linearly movable elements, means for rotating said roll at a speed such that its periphery moves slightly faster than said linearly movable elements and in the same direction, a guide along the frame adjacent said roll for engaging the pasting flap when it is brought into contact therewith, said guide being parallel to the path of movement of said linearly movable elements, and means for applying paste to the patch as the thus turned blank is moved linearly therealong.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 further characterized in that a supporting roller is provided on the frame and mounted below the turning roll for supporting the under side of the blank below said turning roll.

9. The apparatus of claim '7 further characterized in that a pair of roller means are mounted on the frame transversely thereof and in a position to have the peripheries of said roller means run in contact with each other along the plane of movement of said blanks, and means for driving said roller means at a speed equal to the speed of movement of said linear means for moving the blank, roller means being positioned for receiving the blank after it is turned by said turning roll.

PAUL E. FISCHER.

No references cited. 

